The single-key trap
Used cars change hands with one key remarkably often. The second key was lost by a previous owner, never replaced, and the new owner inherits a fragile situation without realising it.
The actual numbers
A scheduled spare for a typical Austin family SUV runs $149–$249. The same key originated as an all-keys-lost emergency at midnight runs $249–$399 plus an after-hours fee — and costs you an evening.
Add the knock-on effects of being stranded: a missed shift, a cancelled appointment, a rideshare home and back. The spare pays for itself the first time you need it.
When to do it
Immediately after buying a used vehicle, when a household adds a driver, or any time you realise you are down to one key. Booking takes two minutes and the appointment takes half an hour at your home or office.